Conveyer system



Dec. 2, 1941. 5 PECKER 2,264,549

GONVEYER SYSTEM Filed June 9, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOS EEH S. PECKER J. 5. PECKEYR 9 CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed June 9, 1939 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR.

JO EPH S. PECKER Dec. 2, 1941. J, s PECKE 2,264,549

' CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed June 9, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VI II/III] l mm-1 7 '6 El? [3105. s E fi R .12 was.

Dec. 2, 1941. J PECKER 2,264,549

CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Jun 9, 1939 6 Sheets-:Sheet 5 85| as 84 *80 a Dec. 2, 1941. PECKER 2,264,549

GONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Jfine 9, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 4 INVENTOR JOS E PH S. PECKER M M- ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED srATEs A ENT o'FF c CONVEYER SYSTEM I Joseph 'S. Pecker, Philadelphia, Pa.,'assi-gn0r to "Machine & TooI DeSigning Compan -"Philadelphia; 'Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 9, 1939, Serial No. 278,336

16 Claims. Ql. 198-408) The object of .the invention -in=its broadest sense is to provide. improvements in conveyer systems, and-more particularly in .a system by means of which-one or. more suitable. carriers can b propelled through a given path, which may assumeanycourse whatsoevenandmay be either fixed or instead may be adapted for shifting into various configurations.

Heretofore, chains, belts of various sorts, webs and similar devices have been employed, but practically if not all of these have been limited to operation in a givenplane, or are otherwise limited by reason of the fact that the carrier (when present) must maintain its initial fixed relation with respect to the propelling means, as

separable contact, or instead telescope to a certain degree into one another, but inall cases are respectively free to rotate angularlyabout their common axis without any restraint whatever. Furthermore, links that are fixedly connected together in a continuous chain can have their courses changed only by directing. them over pulleys of various .sorts, whereas the present structure comprises in reality a chain or seriesof separable links connected only to the extent of mere physical contact, which therefore must be restrained against more than a certain predetermined degree of lateral or transverse motion by means of a confining tubular guide, or track provided with a longitudinally extending slot through which access to said links may be constantly maintained. Such a tube may obviously assume any desired shape, position, curvature, or direction, while the slot instead of being actually. rectilinear with respect to the tubes axis, may progress angularly about such axis wherever such a. change in course is found desirable, as for instance to dump or eject the contents of a carrier being propelled by the chain of links.

temanovel .form Oflinkunit, which essentially comprises an axially. extending shank. and one ormore radiallenlargements, one form of said unit being .characterized by the .fact that at least adjacent end or ends, and another form com- A further object is tcprovicle in such a 5315- 55 prisinglan axial...shank.'provided with'one or more. such enlargements, oneof which is at one end of th shank and centrally recessed to receive-the opposite end of the shank of the next adjacent unit. I o

Another object is to provide an improved type of driving .means for such chain oflinks, in the form of a specially designed worm, Whichwhile remaining in a fixed position receives lateral enlargements of the consecutive links between its adjacent .spiral threads .orridges, as .it revolves upon its axis and thereby causes the links to suecessively forge ahead, due to. said links. being heldto a .fixed longitudinal path, so :that each link proceeds to press forwardly those in front of it, .said worm being also so shaped as to .reach out in eiiect and bring withinits range of normal operation, the next succeeding. link of the chain, .inorder to overcome any gap that .may exist between such succeeding linkand the next link'forwardly thereof, and already positioned in the grip of the worm. Such agap, it should be noted, may/be definitely. permitted in order to permitelongation of the :chain without buckling and resultingbinding under relatively high temperatures. V A still further and more specificobject is to provide for such a, link system a propelling mechanism. comprising preferably a plurality of worms which rotate in unison, and in" the grooves of which the one orrmore enlargements of each link extend, while the longitudinal path of said links is restrained and determined-by a tubular element, forming atrack having a channel through whichsaid links are accessible for propulsion purposes. At this point it should be also'understood, that each reference to links and chain is intended to l'eferto independent detached links in a systemywhich: as an: entirety comprises a' chain in the'brcad sense of-that term.

With theobjectsthus briefly stated, the invention comprises further details or construction and operation, which are hereinafter fully broughtout in the following description, when read in conjunction with the' accompanying drawings, in'which Fig. 1 .is aplan'view of a conveyersystem, comprising one embodiment of the invention; Fig. v2 isan 'elevational view or tion and taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the said propelling unit on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the co-relation of a carrier with the conveyer chain of links and the tubular guide for said chain; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of two forms of individual links; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a cylindrical bead-like unit corresponding with one of the laterally enlarged portions of the links shown in Figs. 8 and 9; Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the members by which a carrier is connected operatively to the improved chain; Fig. 13 shows a pair of adjacent inter-engaging links of modified design, as compared with those shown in 9 and 10; Figs. 14 and 15 are plan views of the propelling worms by means of which the links shown in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively are propelled by the unit shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 16 is a plan view of the propelling worms shown in Fig. 14, but operatively engaging a modified form of flexible conveyer medium; Fig. 17 is an end elevation of a conveyer channel and its support, but of a modified form overthat hereinbefore illustrated; Fig. 18 is a side elevation of this modifying form of channel, a propelling chain of .units positioned therein, and a pair of spaced supports for said channel; Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section on the lines l9l9 of Figs. 21 and 22; Fig. 20 is a transverse section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19; Figs. 21 and'22 are sections on the line 2|, 22-2|, 22 of Fig, 19, the first showing a single and the second showing double or twin chains being propelled by a single worm, gear, or equivalent rotary element; Fig. 23 is a plan view of a propelling unit with as many as six chain guiding tubes, the chains of which are propelled by three worms or equivalent elements shown in dotted lines; Fig. 24 is a fragmentary section on the line 2424 of Fig. 23, showing one method of so interrelating the said driving elements that the chains are propelled in opposite directions at the same speed, though by altering the siZe or pitch of the worm threads and by changing their direction, said chains may be driven at different speeds and either all in the same direction or by various combinations of different directions; and Fig. 25 is a transverse section on the line 2525 of Fig. 23, with the worms meshing as indicated in both of Figs. 23

and24.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a tube l of special construction is here shown as being shaped so as to conform to various curves and connecting tangents extending in a plurality of angularly related planes. This tube, shown also in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, comprises in transverse section a central cylindrical portion formed between oppositely positioned, internally concentric arcuate sides 3, the bottom portions of which merge into short parallel sections A, which are connected together by a transversely extending bottom section 5 to provide within said tube a centrally positioned depending groove 6. The opposite edge portions of thearcuate sections '3 merge into upwardlydirected parallel guide sections 1, the space between which is in vertical diametrical aligmnen't with the groove 6.

'upon the link of Fig. 9.

Adapted to move longitudinally through the central arcuate portion of said tube are a series of independent links 8 and 9, such for instance, as those shown in Figs. 9 and 10 respectively. Each of these links comprises an axially positioned longitudinally extending shank l0, provided at spaced regions with lateral bead-like enlargements I I which in each instance are preferably spaced from the respective opposite ends and also from each other, the space of each beadlike enlargement from the adjacent end of said shank being preferably about one-half of the space between the enlargements upon each oi said shanks. By this construction, when a plurality of said links either of the same or different form are operatively positioned end to end, the spaces between adjacent enlargements upon neighboring links will be equal to the space between the enlargement upon each link. At this point it should be noted that the two forms of links shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are merely representative of probably innumerable forms which might be used in the present conveyer system, as the invention is by no means limited to the exact shape, size or arrangement of the various details which cooperate to form each of said links.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7 a carrier of any desired type or construction is represented by the platform i 2, which is provided upon its under surface with two or more depending integral pairs of lugs l3, provided with aligned bores, through which extend pins M. A pair of connecting members I5, such as is shown in Fig. 12, are provided to operatively connect said platform I2 to the chain of links within said tubular guide. Each of these members comprises a longitudinally extending body portion l6, provided with spaced apertures I! of such shape as to receive bead-like members l8, such as the one shown in Fig. 11, but which may be substantially spherical in shape, in order to more nearly approximate the shape of the spherical enlargements ll of the links shown in Fig. 16, as compared with the more cylindrical type of enlargement I l, shown Each of the members 15 also comprise a normally upwardly extending projection l9 which at its free end is provided with spaced apertures 20 and 2|.

One of these connecting members I5 is positioned, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, between the depending lugs I3 carried by the platform l2, with the pin 14 extending through the aperture 2|, and a second pin 22 secured within the aperture 20 laterally disposed in front of the spaced depending lugs l3. The other member of the pair of connecting member l5, provided for each of said platforms, is in turn provided with a pin 23 extending through its aperture 20 and with a second pin 24 extending through its aper ture 21, said second pin also extending through the aligned apertures in the laterally opposite sides 25 of a transversely enlarged U-shaped slidable connecting member 26, such as that shown in Fig. 8. The apertured portions 25 of said member are spaced apart only sufficiently to receive between them the upper portion [9 of one of the connecting members l5, while the opposite portion of said member 26 comprises diverging sides 21 connected together by a curved opposite end portion 28, said sides 21 being provided with aligned slots 29 through which extends an elongated pin 30, the opposite end of which also extends through the depending spaced lugs 13, as shown in. Figs, 5,1? vand B,;tl:1isstructure beingrfor :a purpose hereinafter described.

- Referring to. Fig. 13,: there is '1 here. shown a modified "form of link or in fact a of such modified links in their normal cooperative rela-; tionship; Each of these modified-links comprises a central, preferably cylindrical shank :portion 35; terminating at one" end in a conical end portion 36, while its other end is provided with a substantially cylindrical radial enlargement 31, the circumferential surface 38 of whichis preferably slightly convex longitudinally, while that side of said enlargement opposite to said shank is provided axially with an inwardly extending bore 39 ofsuitablesize and shape to receive the adjacent conical end portion of the linkadja cent thereto, and within which the end 36 of the next adjacent link can readily gyra-te.

Referring now to Figs. '5, 6, 7, Band 12, it will be seenthat a series of links of a type such as that shown in Fig. 9 or 10, or of other desired shape, is assembled within the tube 3 with the end of one link abutting against the links next adjacent thereto with this exception, that Where the connecting members I5 extend into said tube and interrupt the continuity of the otherwise regular. arrangement of the links 8 or 9., as .the case may be, thesesaid connecting members-are of such length that they exactly fill longitudinal spaces within said tube equal to that of said links. In. addition, two of the bead-like-mem bers l8 are inserted in. the apertures I! in each of said connecting members l5, so as to thereby comprise means to lock said connecting members ,operatively, with respect to said tube, so that said members and the platform .(or otherextraneous object or objects) connected thereto will be prevented from becomingdisengagedirom said tube, except only at such location asthe slot opening to said, tube maybeenlargedfor the purpose of attaching and detaching said connecting members and the said restraining headlike members I8. Thugthroughout all of the remaining extent of said tube, said connecting members and platform must necessarily follow the path set by said tube, irrespective of whatever shape it may take, or the'planes or spirals through which it may progress, as suggested by Figs. 1 and 2. For propelling the chain of individual links, there is provided a special mechanism, as hereinbefore referred to, the same being represented diagrammatically at 46 in Fig 2, where extending from said propelling mechanism as a unit there is a shaft M, driven by any suitable power transmitting means, such for instance, as the belt 42, which is also connected to the electric motor 43 mounted upon any available support 44. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 14-, 15 and 16; the said propelling mechanism is shown in detail. For convenience said mechanism comprises an external casing formed of a series of longitudinally disposed intermediate sections 45, 46, and 48, secured together and in operative alignment by any suitable arrangement of dowel pins 49 and bound together'between end sections 50. Section 46 is provided with a centrally positioned .bore 5|, throughwhich said chain of links is adapted to pass after leaving the worms 52, which receive the radial enlargements of the respective links within their grooves, whereby upon being rotated said worms effect a propulsion of .said links longitudinally. These worms are mounted upon .a shaft, or are: provided in :one direction with-trunnions or shafts 53, which are journalled withinrand: extend through; bearings provided in the section 46, while beyond said section/said shafts are providedrwithi gears 54,-; which constantly mesh with" and 'arerdriven' by .a larger geair.55, carried bythe driving shaft 41, hereinbeforereferred to; said gears 54- and 55 being housed within the hollow section 45 atone end of said casing,

' :Extendingw in the opposite direction, said wormsare provided with additional trunnions or shafts 56, to which are secured specially designed advance worm sections 51 having spiral ridges 58;"while beyond said advanceworm sectionssaid last-mentioned shafts are journalled within bearings provided by and within the casing section: 48. The sections 41 and 46 are-provided with-aligned: chambers 59, which cooperate to form a housing for the pairs of .main :andxad- Vance worms 52- and 51., as clearly shown in Fig. 3: The end sections 56 :are soconstructed as to receive the adjacent end portions of the tube 3, while :the sections 45- and 48 are-also. provided with: channels 66' and 6|,respectively, in .alignment' with the channel 5| in the section 46, so as to thereby provide with the intervening pairs ofrworms 52: and' 51 a continuous channel, through which. the chain links are propelled, as also shown in :Fig. 3. Inthis figure it will additionallybe made clearzhow a link in the propelling position- 62, between and incontact with the worms 52, is pushed ahead against the next adjacentv links 63, 64, and so on throughout the series comprising the chain, until the propelling force reaches that 1ink'65 which is immediately to the rear of the propelled link 52, and in front of a further link 66.

However; in' order to provide for expansion and contraction, the total length ofpsaidachain ofrlinks is purposely" less than the total length of the link channel, composed of the'tube =3-. and the several parts of the propelling mechanism, sorthat a. gap occurs at G'I-rbetweenthe link 62 and 65. ()rdinarily the link '65 would then not be in correct position to properly enter the space between the propelling worms 52,- wherefore the specially shaped advance worm sections 51 are provided, the operation of these worm sections being such that their threads or ridges 58, being of greater pitch than the threads or ridges'of said propelling worms, reach into the space to therear of the forwardly positioned enlargement of the link -65, and operate to snatchthis link, as itiwere, away fromthe link 66 and thus bring it upinto a-position 'closelyadjaoent to and in contact with-the next'forw'ard link 62, so that as this 'forwardlink 62 passes partiallyfrom said propelling worms, the'next'succeeding 65 will be gripped by said worms and in turn take its position in the forward portion of thechain and operate to propel the link 62, after it has passed through the successive positions of the links 63, 64, et cetera, fromtheposition occupied by the link 66 in Fig. 3. However, it is to be: understood and willbe clearly obvious, that the auxiliary worms 57 -58 are only necessary when the chain adjacent thereto is being propelled in upwardly, horizontally, or only slightly doumwardlydirections, for the'reason that when the chainapproaches the propelling means in a-distinctly downward .direction',gravity will cause the forwardlinks to automatically drop into the proper position to be engaged, by the ridges orthreads of the main propelling worm or worms '52, in. which case installations of said propellingmeansxshould preferably eliminate lthe. said auxiliary "worms or worms entirely. At this point it is well to note also that said propelling unit may comprise either one, two, three or even more rotary worms, gears or similar propelling means, in cooperation either with the same or a different number of chains, guides and associated elements, wherefore those appended claims which are not specifically limited to a given number or type of propelling means, are to be construed as covering any 'or all members and types suitable for the purpose at hand.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the several sections of the propelling mechanism are provided with aligned slots 58, into which extend the lower portions of the platform connecting members i5, sothat as the bead-like members l8, carried by said connecting members l5, pass through said propelling mechanism, said beads are likewise engaged by the pairs of worms 51 and 52 in succession, so as to force said beads and said connecting members through said propelling mechanism, exactly as hereinbefore described with respect to the beads of the regular form of chain. Also, having in mind what has been stated with respect to the opening of the chain at the point 61 to permit expansion and contraction, this obviously results in a need for the members I5 of each carrier being relatively variable as to the distance between them. This, then, explains'the reason for providing the connecting member 26 with theelongated slots 29, so that the right hand (as viewed in Fig. 5) or following member l5 can lag behind, as the forward of said members is rather suddenly propelled forwardly by the advance worm sections 51, when the beads of said advance member are caught by said last-mentioned worms. However, when the position of said advance connecting member l5 and its beads have progressed into the position of the link 63, the beads of the rearward connecting member are caught by the said advance worms 5'! and propelled at greater speed forwardly, until finally the beads of said advance and following members are again in normally operative relation, in the relative positions indicated by the respective beads 64 and 62.

Whereas the worms 52, shown in Figs. 3, 14 and 16, represent that shape of worm which is adapted to propel links of the form shown in Fig. 9, the pair of worms 52' shown in Fig. 15 are designed to propel links of the shape shown in Fig. 10. Likewise, various other shapes of worms may be provided in order to accommodate correspondingly different shapes of links.

Referring to the modification shown in Fig. 16, a series of individual beads Ha are here shown as being connected together by means of a slender cable lib, which is threaded through them in addition to cylindrical spacers llc, which alternate with said beads and maintain said beads in proper predetermined spaced relation. This composite type of chain can then be propelled by any suitable form of one or more rotary members, as suggested by the pair of cooperating worms 52.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18, a modified form of conveyer channel is shown as a substitute for the tube 3, hereinbefore described. In this case spaced brackets "H1 are supported at spaced intervals upon a suitable base I I, and are each provided in their upper surfaces with U-shaped recesses 12, the upper portions of the opposite sides of which are oppositely V or U shaped, as at '13, to provide for correspondingly shaped pairs of grooved members 14, together providing a continuous channel through which the chain of links 15 is adapted to be propelled, as hereinbefore described. However, it will be obvious that this modification in the form of channel presents no variation in the principles involved, but instead indicates merely that the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement hereinbefore described.

Referring to Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the drawings, there is here shown a propelling unit which essentially comprises a sectional hollow base 80, having a closure 81 for its otherwise open upper portion, said closure cooperating with the said base to provide bearings 82 for a shaft 83, said bearings being spaced apart at a point conveniently located between the opposite ends to rotatably receive a worm 84, comprising alternately positioned spiral ridges 85 and intervening grooves'86. The uppermost wall of the closure portion 8! is relatively thickened and provided with a longitudinally extending slot 81, which leads into a cylindrical channel 88, through which a series of chain-forming links 89 is adapted to pass, said links being of any suitable shape, size and material, such for instances as those represented by Figs. 9 and 10.

The radial enlargements of the respective links, as indicated in Fig. 19, enter the spiral grooves 86 of said worm, while the intervening ridges 85 of said worm enter the spaces between the consecutive radial enlargements of said links, whereby rotation of said worm efiects a propulsion of the chain of which said links are formed. It will also be noted that the tubular channel 88 through this modified form of propelling unit communicates in opposite directions with the adjacent end portions of a tube 90, which is otherwise understood as being continuous and of a form represented in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form of the device represented by Fig. 22, the longitudinal construction is similar to that shown in Fig. 19, but unlike the form represented more specifically by Figs. 20 and 21, the form shown in Fig. 22 shows two independent channels 9| in which as many chains of links 92 are propelled longitudinally by engagement with the single worm 84, thus representing any such structure in which a plurality of link chains are propelled by the same worm gear or equivalent rotary propelling element.

Referring now to Figs. 23, 24, and 25, the propelling unit here shown comprises a lower base section 93 and an upper closure section 94, providing a relatively thickened top wall 95, through which extend longitudinally three pairs of tubular channels 96, each of which is provided with an outwardly opening slot 91', through which access is permitted at all times to the chains of links positioned within and movable longitudinally of the respective slots under propulsion of the'several worm gears 98 or99. In this construction there are also shown a pair of link chain channels in communication with each of said worms, similar to the construction shown in Fig. 22, but it is to be understood that this showing is purely illustrative and that one, two, three, or even more such channels may be in communication with each of the respective worms.

Also, by reason of the fact that it is usually desirable to confine the chain-guiding channels and their respective tubes Hill to a minimum transverse space, at least at the locality of the propelling unit, the second or central worm 99 is .herez-shownas: being. longitudinally spaced from the plane. of the *saidifirst and third worms 98, while the shafts .l|.:(Fig..24), upon which said .Yworms are mounted, are inter-connected throughrinter-meshing. .gear's 1'02- lrWith this construction and. withth'e ridges and grooves of the worms 98 and 99 'a-ll representing righthandspirals,v it will be noted that. linkchains propelled by both of the first and thirdworms 98 will be downwardly, while thoseichains propelled by the intervening or second worm-99, will "be upwardlywhen viewed in theposition illustrated by Fig. 23.. However, all of the chains may. be driven downwardly or upwardlyby constructing' the spiral of'the central worm-"99 in an oppositev or left-hand direction to'that of the firstand third worms 98. On the other-hand, by changing the direction of the spirals upon one of theworms 98,- without-changing it upon the other, the chains driven by them will be propelled respectively in :opposite directions, instead of in the same direction, while thechain or chains propelled by the central worm 99 may be made to coincide in direction of movement with that of either one of the two first-mentioned worms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a power transmitting system, a link comprising a relatively slender axially extending shank, provided with a plurality of spaced cir cumferentially extending radial enlargements, the length of the shank between said enlargements being equal to the aggregate of the lengths of shank at the opposite ends of said link beyond said enlargements.

2. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube having a slot in one side, a chain of independent links operative to push one another within said tube, rotary worm means engageable with consecutive links in sequence to propel said chain by pushing the remaining links, a carrier, and means extending through said slot to operatively connect said carrier to said links.

3. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube having a slot in one side, a chain of independent links within said tube having radial enlargements wider than said slot, a carrier, a plate-like connecting member having an aperture and extending through said slot into said tube and substantially filling the space of one of said links, a bead-like member within said aperture to prevent said member from accidentally escaping from said slot, and means to propel said links and thereby said carrier along said tube as a guide, and a loose connection between one of said links and said carrier, to permit said members and carrier to negotiate curves in said tube.

4. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube having a slot in one side, a chain of independent links within said tube having radial enlargements wider than said slot, a carrier, a pair of plate-like connecting members having apertures, and extending through said slot into said tube and substantially filling the space of two of said links, a bead-like member within each of said apertures to prevent said members from accidentally escaping from said slot, and means to propel said links and thereby said carrier along said tube as a guide, and a loose connection between one of said links and said carrier, to permit said membersiand carrier to negotiateicurves'in said tube; .5. A'power" transmitting system, comprising the. combination: of a tube adapted to extend in multiple 'planes and having a longitudinally extending opening, a chain of separable links movable longitudinally within said tube, a member alsowithin said tube of greater width than said opening, a carrier upon the outer side of said tube, and a connecting member attached to said carrier .and extending intosaid tube into alignment with said chain, so as to span said member longitudinally and form in'eifect one of the links of said chain, andb'yengagement with saidfirst member-being prevented from separation from 'saidtube 1 6.1 A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube adapted to. extend in multiple planes and havinga longitudinally extending opening, a chain movable longitudinally withinsaid tube, a bead-like member also within said. tube of greater Width than said opening-a carrier upon the outer side of said tube, and a pair of connecting members attached to said carrier, the attachment of one such member being by means of a longitudinally and laterally yielding connection, said connecting members extending into said tube and engaging said bead-like members, to insure said carrier moving with said chain and substantially parallel with the axis of said tube.

7. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube, with a series of independent links in said tube having less aggregate length than the axis of said tube, rotary means to propel said series through said tube, and a second rotary means in advance of said first rotary means to bring the most advanced link into the field of operation of said first rotary means.

8. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube, with a series of independent links in said tube having less aggregate length than the axis of said tube, a worm to propel said series through said tube, and a second worm in advance of and having a thread of greater pitch than that of said first worm to engage and bring the most advanced link into the plane of operation of said propelling means.

9. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a tube, with a series of independent links in said tube having less aggregate length than the axis of said tube, propelling means for said links comprising a plurality of worms rotatable in synchronism, and a Worm having a thread or ridge of increased pitch compared with that of said propelling worms, operative to engage the most advanced link and bring it into the plane of operation of said propelling worms.

10. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a series of independent links, means to guide and restrain said links to a given path, a carrier, and connecting members securing said carrier to spaced links in said chain, one of said members being attached to said carrier through a longitudinally yielding connection.

11. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a. series of independent links, means to guide and restrain said links to a given path, a carrier, and connecting members securing said carrier to spaced links in said chain, one of said members being attached to said carrier through a longitudinally and laterally yielding connection.

12. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a series of independent links, means to guide and restrain said links to a given path, a carrier, and connecting members securing said carrier to spaced links in said chain, one of said members being attached to said carrier through a longitudinally and angularly yielding connection.

13. A power transmitting system, comprising the combination of a series of independent links, means to guide and restrain said links to a given path, a carrier, and connecting members securing said carrier to spaced links in said chain, one of said members being attached to said carrier through a connection which permits the adjacent portion of said carrier to shift longitudinally with respect to said member, laterally with respect to said guide at curves in a transverse plane, and angularly with respect to said guide at curves in a vertical plane.

14. A power transmitting system, comprising a plurality of series of independent links combining to form a corresponding plurality of flexible chains, channels to restrain said chains of links in predetermined paths, and rotary worm means common to all of said chains and operative to propel them simultaneously.

15. A power transmitting system, comprising a plurality of series of independent links combining to form a corresponding plurality of flexible chains, channels to restrain said chains of links in predetermined paths, and a plurality of rotary worm means, one such means being common to a plurality of said chains, and all of said means being rotatable in unison.

16. A power transmitting system, comprising a plurality of series of independent links combining to form a corresponding plurality of flexible chains, channels to restrain said chains of links in predetermined paths, and a plurality of rotary worm means, one of such means being common to a plurality of said chains, and said means being inter-connected so as to drive certain of said JOSEPH S. PECKER. 

